Energy Saving Lighting Gains Popularity

The proportion of households in the United States using one or more CFL or LED light sources is on the rise, according to E Source market research. Today, 87% of households are using at least one CFL or LED light bulb in their homes and 77% are using three or more, up from 86% and 75% in 2011, respectively, the company reported.

Among the findings:

Older adults are more likely than younger adults to use multiple CFLs at home.

LEDs are more popular among younger than older residents.

Homeowners are more likely to use multiple CFLs and LEDs than renters.

Saving money is the major reason consumers give for conserving energy, but those that say preserving the environment is their primary motivation are slightly more likely to use multiple CFLs or LEDs in their homes.

The percentage of U.S. households using multiple CFLs and LEDs gains as annual household income increases.

The effect of household income on the use of energy-saving light bulbs can be complex, however, as home size influences the number of light sockets installed. So, wealthier people able to afford larger houses have more sockets to fill and must purchase more bulbs to do it. So, residents living in homes that are 5,000 square feet or larger in size aren’t necessarily the power users of CFLs and LEDs, E Source noted. Homes of such dimension are less likely to include 11 or more CFLs or LEDs when compared to homes between 3,000 and 5,000 square feet, despite the fact that they likely have more light sockets, the study determined.

Households with 11 or more CFLs and LEDs increases as the number of household members increases, suggesting that households ramping up energy use are more likely to replace incandescent light bulbs with CFLs or LEDs.

For the past four years, E Source stated, it has partnered with The Nielsen Co. on an annual Energy Audit survey of 32,000 U.S. households focusing on behaviors and attitudes related to home energy use.

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